Holder for transferring test tube

ABSTRACT

A test tube holder holds various types of test tubes substantially perpendicular, and is structured to be durable against extraction and insertion of the test tubes. The test tube holder includes a housing part having a hollow portion, a holding part positioned on an upper side of the housing part and having an opening portion, which accepts a test tube, and a housing portion, which houses the accepted test tube. An elastic part is formed inside the holding part so as to abut on the housed test tube. The test tube holder has a weight housed inside the hollow portion. The holding part and the elastic part may be integrally formed. Inside the hollow portion of the housing part, besides the weight, an individual identification tag, an electromagnetic wave absorbent, and a support member for a tapered test tube can be housed in accordance with usage.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 14/355,083, filed Apr. 29, 2014, the entirety of the contents andsubject matter of all of the above is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an examiner holder used fortransferring a test tube holding a specimen such as blood, urine, or abody fluid therein mainly on a belt conveyer to an automatic analysisapparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

At a large-scale hospital and an examination center, which analyze alarge amount of specimen such as blood, automation of transferring andpre-processing the specimen is advancing for the purpose of improvingexamination efficiency and of decreasing contact between an operator andthe specimen such as the blood. The specimen such as the blood isprocessed being housed in a container such as a test tube and a cup onwhich a label is attached. A barcode and the like are printed on thelabel.

As an outside diameter of the test tube, approximately φ16 or φ13 ismost often used; however, there is variation of about severalmillimeters among manufacturers. Furthermore, some have a taperedexternal shape, whereby an outside diameter of a bottom of the containeris shaped to be smaller than an outside diameter of an opening portionof the container.

These test tubes, while being placed on a test tube holder, aretransferred by a transferring apparatus such as a transfer line to apre-processing apparatus and an analysis apparatus. Patent Literature 1discloses a general system using the test tube holder. In this system,the test tube is inserted into the test tube holder at a feeding part ofthe specimen, and processing such as extraction and insertion of thetest tube is repeated at a storing part of the specimen and duringintermediate processes. Furthermore, it is necessary for the test tubeholder to hold the test tubes having different external shapessubstantially perpendicular. Therefore, as in Patent Literatures 2, 3,and the like, in a holding structure, an elastic spring of metal or thelike is installed facing upward in many cases.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: WO 2011/040203 A

Patent Literature 2: JP 2010-271204 A

Patent Literature 3: JP 2005-262041 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

Since a test tube holder repeatedly undergoes processes such asinsertion and extraction of a test tube many times within a system, acertain degree of durability is required for a spring portion, which isin general formed of an elastic body such a metal. Furthermore, theinsertion of the test tube into the test tube holder is performed by anoperator or a robot, and the test tube or a central axis of the testtube is not necessarily inserted perpendicular to a central axis of aninsertion part where the test tube holder receives the test tube.Therefore, as described in the conventional technique, in a case wherean adapter for holding the test tube or a holding part is formed to faceupward, the adapter or the holding part may collide with the test tube,whereby a metallic spring of the test tube holder may be deformed aftera long time of use.

Furthermore, the test tube holder disclosed in the conventionaltechnique has a structure in which the metallic spring and a resin mainbody are combined, whereby there is a problem in that a cost reductionis difficult due to a high manufacturing cost and a large number ofproduction man-hours as well as in that it is specialized in holdingtest tubes having a specific shape and is not suitable for holding manytypes of test tubes.

In view of the above-described problem, an objective of the presentinvention is to provide a test tube holder having high durability andwith which the cost thereof can be reduced.

Solution to Problem

A structure of the present invention is as below. That is, a test tubeholder is configured to include: a housing part having a hollow portiontherein; a holding part positioned on an upper side of the housing partand having an opening portion, which accepts a test tube, and a housingportion, which houses the accepted test tube; and an elastic part formedinside the holding part so as to abut on the housed test tube. It has aweight housed inside the hollow portion.

Furthermore, the holding part having a storing portion for storing thetest tube and the elastic part formed inside the holding part so as toabut on the stored test tube may be formed of the same material.

Furthermore, the housing, the holding part having the storing portionfor storing the test tube, and the elastic part formed inside theholding part so as to abut on the stored test tube may be formed of thesame material.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a testtube holder having a good stability during transfer and that does notdamage or contaminate the test tube or the holder itself even when thetest tube is repeatedly put in and taken out.

Furthermore, as another effect of the present invention, it is possibleto provide a test tube holder at a low manufacturing cost.

Furthermore, as still another effect of the present invention, it ispossible to provide a test tube holder that can easily supply varioustypes of test tube holders at a low cost in accordance with usage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a test tube holder according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2-A is a view illustrating a configuration of the test tube holderaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2-B is a sectional view illustrating a main body housing.

FIG. 2-C1 is a sectional view illustrating a housing with a spring.

FIG. 2-C2 is a detailed view illustrating the housing with a spring ofFIG. 2-C1.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an example of assembling a housing with alid-like bottom part and a radio wave individual identification tag.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the test tube holder according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a use example of a test tube holderaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a measuring value of resonant frequency on a tag surface whena metal weight is not used.

FIG. 7 is a measuring value of the resonant frequency on the tag surfacewhen the metal weight is used.

FIG. 8A is a sectional view illustrating a test tube holder according toEmbodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 8B is a partial sectional view illustrating an enlarged portion 8Bof the test tube holder shown in FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a sheet for fixing a lower portion of atest tube.

FIGS. 10(a) to 10(c) are views illustrating a position of a center ofgravity of a specimen holder.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a test tube holder according toEmbodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a test tube holder according toEmbodiment 4 of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention are described in detail withreference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a test tube holder according to Embodiment1 of the present invention. FIG. 2-A is a view illustrating aconstituent component of the test tube holder according to Embodiment 1of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the test tubeholder according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Structure of the test tube holder in FIG. 4 is described in FIGS. 1 to3. As illustrated in FIG. 2-A, a test tube holder 9 is configured toinclude a housing with a spring 1 for fixing the test tube, a test tubeholder main body housing 2, and a housing of a housing with a lid-likebottom part 3.

The housing with a spring 1 for fixing the test tube is described byusing FIGS. 2-C1 and 2-C2. An outline of a test tube for clinical use isdescribed in “Laboratory Automation: Specimen container” issued by theNational Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS). When anoutside diameter of the test tube is φ13, an actual size thereof is from11.5 mm to 14.0 mm, and when it is φ16, the actual size thereof is from15.0 mm to 17.0 mm. In a spring portion 4, a size B of an openingportion at the top thereof is 17.0 mm or below, and a size A of an openportion at the bottom thereof is 11.4 mm or more, and the spring portion4 needs to be at least 17.5 mm long from an end face at the top.Furthermore, as illustrated in part E of FIG. 2-C2, the spring portion 4has an arc shape that is substantially equal to a circumferential lineof an inner circumference.

The housing with a spring 1 is structured to have a circular shapedhollow out at the center in which a test tube is to be inserted, and thespring portion 4 inside a projection portion (arm) extending upward.Note that in this embodiment, the housing with a spring 1 is based on acylindrical shape; however, an external shape thereof may also be apolygonal column shape as long as it is capable of perpendicularlyholding the test tube by the spring portion 4 provided to the housing atan equal interval or at an equal angle. Furthermore, when the test tubeis supplied to the test tube holder by a robot arm or an operator in astate where the central axis of the test tube and a central axis of theholder are misaligned, there is a possibility that the test tube or theholder may be damaged by a bottom part of the test tube coming intocontact with the housing with a spring 1 of the holder. Therefore, anupper end face of the housing with a spring 1 may be processed into ashape such as a round shape or a chamfered shape so as to cause lessshock even when the test tube comes into contact therewith.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the arm be provided at an equalinterval so as to be a target relative to the central axis of theholder. More preferably, the interval between the arms is 4 mm or more.

When a test tube 8 is inserted or extracted, the spring portion 4 is apart that directly comes into contact with the test tube. Generally, apaper label such as a barcode label is attached to the test tube 8 foridentifying a specimen housed therein. A barcode is read by using abarcode reader such as an automatic analysis apparatus for analyzing thespecimen, and using data that has been read, an item and a result of ananalysis are managed. When a hard metallic spring comes into contactwith the barcode, however, there is a possibility that the barcode labelmay be scratched or stained. Therefore, it is preferable that the springportion 4 be manufactured of resin and be integrally molded with thehousing with a spring 1 for fixing the test tube.

In Embodiment 1, polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is used for the housingwith a spring 1. As another industrial material, an aromatic polyetherketone material such as polyether ketone (PEK), polyether ketone ketone(PEKK), and polyether ether ketone ketone (PEEKK) is also effective.

Since the above-described materials in the Embodiment 1 are generallyexpensive as a resin material, it is also possible to manufacture themain body housing 2 and the lid-like bottom part 3, for example, using adifferent material. In Embodiment 1, polyacetal (POM) is used. By usingPEEK having high strength, excellent elasticity, and excellentdurability although being expensive for the housing with a spring 1 andby using an inexpensive material having excellent wear and abrasionresistance for the housing and the lid-like bottom part 3, it ispossible to realize an inexpensive and highly durable test tube holder.

Furthermore, the spring portion 4 is not necessarily limited to aspring. It may be an elastic member such as rubber, for example, as longas it is capable of holding the test tube perpendicularly by contact.Furthermore, the housing with a spring 1, the main body housing part 2,the housing with a lid-like bottom part 3, and the like may bemanufactured of the same material.

As illustrated in FIG. 2-B, the main body housing 2 of the test tubeholder is hollow inside. A part of an outer surface of the main bodyhousing 2 is formed to be a detachable lid. In this embodiment, a lowersurface of the main body housing 2 is detachable as the housing with alid-like bottom part 3. It is structured such that a weight 5, a sheet13, an identification tag, and the like can be incorporated into thishollow portion in accordance with usage. In a case where a desiredmember is stored in the hollow portion, it is possible to hold themember within the hollow portion by engaging a hook-shaped fixingportion 7 provided to an outer circumferential portion of the housingwith a lid-like bottom part 3 with a hole provided in the main bodyhousing 2. It is preferable that the hook-shaped fixing portion 7 andthe hole provided in the main body housing 2 be opened easily by ascrewdriver and the like when necessary. The housing with a spring 1 andthe main body housing 2 are also joined in the above-described method.Furthermore, it is also possible to use a screw type joining in which ascrew portion is provided to the housing with a spring 1, the main bodyhousing 2, and the housing with a lid-like bottom part 3.

The weight 5, which is a member that can be housed inside the main bodyhousing part, has a proper weight. Here, necessity of the weight 5 isdescribed. In the test tube holder according to the present invention,the main body housing is hollow inside and an outer wall is molded ofresin. On the other hand, the test tube 8 generally has a diameter of 16mm or 13 mm, and a length of 100 mm or 75 mm. The test tube housesliquid such as blood. Therefore, in a case where a specimen such as theblood is housed in the test tube having the diameter of 16 mm and thelength of 100 mm, by weight of the test tube becoming heavier and acenter of gravity thereof becoming higher than that of the examinerholder, the test tube holder may become unstable and may cause failuresuch as overturning during transfer in the transfer line.

In FIGS. 10(a) to 10(c), difference in a position of the center ofgravity of the holder due to the above-described weight 5 is described.In FIG. 10(b), a position of the center of gravity of the test tubeholder 9 is illustrated when 8 ml of water is poured into the test tubehaving the diameter of 16 mm and the length of 100 mm (as in FIG.10(a)). In this embodiment, a diameter of the holder is 30 mm and heightthereof is 42 mm, and the weight 5 is 25 g. Under the above-describedcondition, the center of gravity when the weight 5 is not put in theholder is illustrated in FIG. 10(c). In FIG. 10(b), a position of thecenter of gravity is 21.2 mm from a bottom surface of the holder, whichis 40.8 mm in FIG. 10(c). Angles of inclination balance are 54.719° and69.814°, respectively, whereby it is clear that stability of the holderis improved by the weight 5. Note that the above-described result isonly an example, and does not specify weight of the weight or a shapeand a size of the holder. Furthermore, it is does specify the center ofgravity.

In the conventional technique, in order to prevent overturning of theholder holding a test tube, handling has been made such as to use astructure in which the test tube is stabilized by a ring-shaped grooveprovided to the test tube holder, which fits with a projection in atransfer rail (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). However, in thismethod, transfer of the test tube is performed while the ring-shapedgroove of the test tube holder and the projection portion of thetransfer line are always in contact with each other. Therefore, the testtube holder may be scraped after a long time of use, and a failure maybe caused in which the test tube holder is no longer fitting well withthe projection portion of the transfer line. In this embodiment, byhousing the weight inside the test tube holder, a center of gravity ofthe test tube holder is lowered in a state where the test tube isinstalled, whereby stable transfer can be realized. Therefore, noproblem is caused due to contact of the projection, an edge, and thelike of the transfer line. The weight 5 may be formed of a metal.

Furthermore, a radio wave individual identification tag 6 may beincorporated in the main body housing part. The radio wave individualidentification tag 6 is used, for example, in a case where apre-recorded number (alphanumeric character or sign) unique to a tag isread, and transfer control of the test tube holder is performed based onthis information. As a non-contact ID reading method using the radiowave individual identification tag 6, a technique such as the radiofrequency identification (RFID) is generally used. This is a techniqueof writing data on a tag of about several centimeters and reading thedata by a radio wave, an electromagnetic wave, and the like.

Since the RFID uses the radio wave and the electromagnetic wave forwriting and reading information, however, the data may not be read wellwhen there is an electric conductor such as a metal near the tag. Thisphenomenon is caused because when the electromagnetic wave is radiatedon the tag for reading the data, an eddy current is generated on a metalsurface of the weight, and due to an influence of the eddy current, amagnetic field is generated in an opposite direction of theelectromagnetic wave that has been radiated, whereby an effect thatcancels out the radiated electromagnetic wave is generated.

An influence of the metal weight according to the structure of the testtube holder of the present invention is described in FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG.6 is a resonant frequency on the tag surface when the metal weight isnot used, and the frequency of the radiated electromagnetic wave is13.55 MHz. Note that radiation of the electromagnetic wave is performedfrom the underside of the test tube holder. FIG. 7 is the resonantfrequency measured on a surface of the individual identification tag 6when the test tube holder has the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, theweight 5 is attached to the top of the individual identification tag 6,and the electromagnetic wave is radiated from the underside of the testtube holder under the same condition as in FIG. 6. Although thefrequency of the radiated electromagnetic wave is adjusted to be 13.55MHz, the measured frequency is 14.4 MHz, whereby it is confirmed that aphenomenon that the tag data cannot be read accurately is occurring.

Therefore, in a case where both of the metallic weight and the RFID tagare put into the hollow portion of the main body housing part, in orderto prevent an RFID failure due to the metallic weight, it is preferablethat an electromagnetic wave absorbent is attached between the weight 5and the individual identification tag 6 in the hollow portion inside thetest tube holder main body housing 2. As a shape of the radio waveabsorbent, a sheet shape or a plate shape may be considered; however, itmay also be another shape as long as it can shield an influence of themetallic weight on the RFID tag. This electromagnetic wave absorbentsuppresses from becoming unable to read the tag data due to theelectromagnetic wave that reaches the surface of the weight 5 and causesthe eddy current on the surface thereof. Furthermore, it is alsopossible to suppress the eddy current by forming a grid-patterned grooveon the surface of the weight.

Embodiment 2

Next, Embodiment 2 is described by using FIGS. 8A and 8B. FIG. 8A is aview illustrating a test tube holder for holding a tapered test tube 12.It is the test tube holder incorporating a sheet 13 for holding the testtube. FIG. 8B is a partial sectional view illustrating an enlargedportion 8B of the test tube holder shown in FIG. 8A.

An example of a shape of the sheet 13 is illustrated in FIG. 9. It is asheet having a thickness of approximately 2 mm and a cross-shaped notchat the center thereof, and silicon is a main material component thereof.In this embodiment, it is assumed that the test tube held by the testtube holder has a diameter of 16 mm or 13 mm. The test tube holder fixesan outer wall of the test tube, which has the diameter of 16 mm to 13mm, by a spring portion 4 with holding power of 60 to 90 g. With thetapered test tube, however, the diameter thereof at a contact part withthe spring portion 4 is 13 mm or below, and the spring portion may pushthe test tube upward along with the outer wall of the test tube.Therefore, a problem may arise in that the test tube may be floated updue to a vibration during transfer or a central axis of the test tubemay be tilted.

The sheet 13 has been attached to solve this problem. It is installed ina hollow portion inside a main body housing 2 of the test tube holder,and a tip of a tapered test tube 12 is fixed by a hole of thecross-shaped notch at the center of the sheet 13. By this effect, thetip of the tapered test tube 12 can be fixed by the sheet 13, andfurther, it can be fixed by the spring portion 4 at the top thereof,whereby it is possible to prevent the floating up and overturning causedby the vibration of a transfer line.

Note that the shape of the sheet 13 and the shape of the hole are notlimited to those in FIG. 9 as long as the tip of the tapered test tube12 can be held. For example, it may also be a sheet provided with ahole, which is the same shape as the outside diameter of the tip of thetest tube, at the center of the sheet. Furthermore, it may also be atest tube holder that supports the test tube by providing a non-sheetmember capable of holding the tip of the tapered test tube inside themain body housing 2.

Note that a housing with a spring 1 for fixing the test tube and a mainbody housing 2 may be formed as an integral structure. The shape of thetest tube is diverse, whereby it is assumed that in some cases, fixingmay be incomplete by using the above-described sheet 13 and the like. Inthis case, in the test tube holder according to the present invention,it is possible to improve the housing with a spring 1 for fixing thetest tube, and to use the test tube holder main body housing 2 and ahousing with a lid-like bottom part 3 as common components, whereby itcan be provided at a low cost even for a special order.

Embodiment 3

Embodiment 3 is described by using FIG. 11.

In the fields of molecular biology and cell engineering, in order tostore a small amount of specimen sample, a specimen container forholding a specimen of 2 ml or below is often used. For example, aspecimen container 16 in FIG. 11 is the representative specimencontainer for holding the specimen of 2 ml or below. An outside diameterthereof is approximately 11 mm or below, and a length thereof isapproximately 30 mm or below. It is difficult to hold this container bythe housing with a spring manufactured in accordance with theabove-described test tubes of φ13 and φ16.

A dedicated housing 15 has a spring portion, having the same structureas the spring portion 4 in Embodiment 1, in accordance with the outsidediameter (approximately 11 mm) of the specimen container 16. To bejoined with a main body housing 2, it has a fitting portion with themain body housing 2 described in Embodiment 1. Therefore, the main bodyhousing 2 and a lid-like bottom part 3 can be manufactured using thosein other embodiments, whereby even if the specimen container is aspecial one, it is not necessary to manufacture a specimen holderseparately, and the specimen holder can be provided at a lowmanufacturing cost.

In Embodiment 3, the specimen container is for 2 ml or below, and theoutside diameter thereof is approximately 11 mm or below, and the lengththereof is approximately 30 mm or below, whereby a position of a centerof gravity is lower than that of the above-described test tube of φ13 orφ16 with a length of 75 mm or 100 mm. In this case, a weight 5incorporated into a hollow portion of the main body housing 2 is notnecessary and can be removed, whereby it is possible to provide a testtube holder at an even lower cost.

Embodiment 4

Embodiment 4 is described by using FIG. 12.

A conventional automatic analysis apparatus that automatically analyzesa biological sample may have a configuration in which, in a case where ageneral sample is input into the automatic analysis apparatus in a rack,a supplying part for repeatedly supplying a standard solution rack and acontrol specimen rack is provided in addition to a supplying part of ageneral sample rack, and these two supplying parts are connected to atransfer line.

In Embodiment 4, an embodiment is described in which the above-describedstandard solution rack and the control specimen rack are repeatedlysupplied by installing a bottle 19, which is filled with a calibrationstandard solution required by an automatic analysis apparatus as well aswith a detergent for cleaning a flow pass of the automatic analysisapparatus, in a specimen holder.

A solution 17 is a solution different from the above-described specimensample such as a detergent, saline, a standard solution, water, and thelike. It may also be a reagent. A cap 18 prevents evaporation or leakageof the solution 17, and is screwed into a top of the bottle 19 or isattached by an inner circumference of the cap 18 adhering closely to anouter circumference at the top of the bottle 19.

In a case where the bottle 19 is mounted to the specimen holder, ahousing with a spring 1 is removed from a main body housing 2, and thebottle 19 is engaged with a projection portion to which the housing witha spring 1 has been engaged. Therefore, a bottom face of the bottle 19has a recessed structure (recessed portion) for engaging with theprojection portion provided in the main body housing 2.

More preferably, in order to stably transfer a container, an outsidediameter of the container is not to be exceeding the outside diameter ofthe main body housing part. Furthermore, in order to stably mount thecontainer on the specimen holder, it is preferable that, when theprojection portion of the housing part and the recessed portion of thebottom face of the container are engaged, a gap therebetween be 0.5 mmor below.

In this case, the specimen holder is repeatedly transferred to adispensing position and a processing position at a specific timing fromthe dedicated supplying part through a transfer belt.

In a case where the specimen holder is used in this usage, the main bodyhousing 2 and a housing with a lid-like bottom part 3 can bemanufactured to have the same shape as those in the other embodiments,and even in a case where a special container other than a specimencontainer is placed, it is not necessary to separately manufacture thespecimen holder, whereby it can be provided at a low manufacturing cost.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1 housing with a spring-   2 main body housing-   3 housing with a lid-like bottom part-   4 spring portion-   5 weight-   6 individual identification tag-   7 hook-shaped fixing portion-   8 test tube-   9 test tube holder-   10 transfer line-   11 motor-   12 tapered test tube-   13 sheet-   14 specimen sample-   15 dedicated housing 15-   16 specimen container-   17 solution-   18 cap-   19 bottle

The invention claimed is:
 1. A single specimen container holder,comprising: a main body housing having a hollow portion therein and around-shaped opening arranged above the hollow portion; a holding partmounted on an upper side of the main body housing and having an openingportion, which accepts a specimen container, and a housing portion,which houses the accepted specimen container; an elastic part formedinside the holding part so as to abut on the housed specimen container;and a weight housed in the hollow portion of the main body housing andhaving a circular hole in the center thereof, a diameter of the circularhole is smaller than that of the round-shaped opening, wherein, when atip of the specimen container is inserted into the hollow portionthrough the round-shaped opening and the circular hole, an exterior wallof the tip of the specimen container is supported by an edge of thecircular hole of the weight and an edge of the round-shaped opening. 2.The single specimen container holder of claim 1, further comprising: asupport member housed in the hollow portion of the main body housing andwhich supports the tip of the specimen container.
 3. The single specimencontainer holder of claim 2, wherein, the support member is a sheet madeof silicon as a main material.
 4. The single specimen container holderof claim 2, wherein, the support member is a sheet having an opening ata center that accommodates an outside diameter of the tip of thespecimen container.
 5. The single specimen container holder of claim 1,wherein, the holding part and the elastic part are formed of the samematerial.
 6. The single specimen container holder of claim 1, furthercomprising: a non-contact type identification tag housed in the hollowportion.
 7. The single specimen container holder of claim 6, wherein,the identification tag is a RFID tag.
 8. A specimen container holder,comprising: a main body housing having a hollow portion therein and acircular opening located above the hollow portion; a holding partmounted on an upper side of the main body housing and having an openingportion, which accepts a specimen container, and a housing portion,which houses the specimen container; an elastic part formed inside theholding part which abuts the specimen container in the housing portion;and a weight housed in the hollow portion of the main body housing andhaving a circular hole in the center thereof, where a diameter of thecircular hole is smaller than that of the circular opening, wherein anexterior of the tip of the specimen container is supported by an edge ofthe circular hole of the weight and an edge of the circular opening whena tip of the specimen container is inserted through the circular openingand the circular hole.
 9. The single specimen container holder of claim8, further comprising: a support member housed in the hollow portion ofthe main body housing and which supports the tip of the specimencontainer.
 10. The single specimen container holder of claim 9, wherein,the support member is a silicon sheet.
 11. The single specimen containerholder of claim 9, wherein, the support member is a sheet having across-shaped notch at the center thereof.
 12. The single specimencontainer holder of claim 8, wherein, the holding part and the elasticpart are the same material.
 13. The single specimen container holder ofclaim 8, further comprising: a non-contact type identification taghoused in the hollow portion.
 14. The single specimen container holderof claim 13, wherein, the identification tag is a RFID tag.